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N O T E S
Advertiser note
For more information please visit birdcontrolgroup.com
D I G E S T
Mark Wolf is a macadamia nut grower from Bondville near Cox Harbor in New South Wales, Australia. Cockatoos were causing severe damage to the macadamia farm year round, from sunrise to sunset. The damage was worth a yearly cost of $20,000, which was a significant loss for the small farm with only 400 trees. Mark decided to invest in the automated laser bird deterrent AVIX Autonomic, designed and manufactured by the Dutch company Bird Control Group. He purchased one system from Bird Beam Laser Bird Control, the trusted Australian partner of Bird Control Group. AVIX Autonomic uses laser technology to
The laser system has been a major success for the farmer. The yearly cost of bird damage had dropped to around $5,000, 75% less than before, and helped pay for the bird deterrent system in less than a year. The number of birds causing damage on his farm has dropped by 90% from 200 to around 20 since the laser system has been active. Used in broadacre, seed crops, lettuce crops, ground crops, vineyards, orchards, brassica, nurseries, AVIX is humane, silent, and sustainable game changer for Australian agriculture.
Advertiser note
Willows Prime Lamb Genetics has a Commercial Focus Jon and Tanya Harpley, owners of Willows Prime Lamb Genetics at Coolac which is situated in the Riverina district of NSW. The operation includes an 1800 head Terminal and Maternal seed stock enterprise. The high-quality genetics from the seed stock operation are sold to other seedstock suppliers and to their commercial clients across Eastern Australia. Jon believes, the key to their success has been to have a commercial focus as a point of difference. Clients remark, many other seedstock producers say the same thing but expect their clients to bid up at auction for rams where they feel pressured and rushed and don’t know what they will have to pay. Jon Harpley says, how we see it is Willows Prime Lamb Genetics, we walk the talk! we supply industry leading genetics at a set price per ram. Clients are provided a large range of rams that they can select from, they can tailor their
selection to exactly what they are looking for. Its rubbish that everyone wants the same ram says Jon. For example, Merino breeders may prioritise low birth weight rams. A trade lamb producer may select for early growth and muscle. A branded lamb supplier, through their feed lot system may select heavily for marbling. A client breeding ewes sourcing maternal genetics may focus on fertility and adult weight. Supplying industry leading genetics in a stress-free sale process, we believe is meeting our client’s demands. We supply Maternal composite genetics for breeding prime lamb dams and Terminal genetics for producing prime lambs. We have clients who call our sheep clean faced Dorset’s, we have others who call them White Suffolks, I always joke, so what do you call the lambs and they say just bloody good lambs! For more information visit www.willowsplg.com.au
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A G R I C U LT U R E
AVIX Autonomic laser keeps cockatoos away from macadamia farm
effectively keep cockatoos and many other bird species away from crops by projecting a green light that the birds perceive as a physical threat and flee the area. The system was installed about 12 months ago and covered a total of five acres targeting specific areas, such as roosting trees. At first, the laser system achieved a 100% reduction in bird number. However, the cockatoos are a highly cunning species, and they soon learn that the laser did not actually harm them. By changing the projection patterns and timing of the laser frequently, Mark was able to keep the birds at bay – achieving a steady 90% reduction in bird number. The AVIX Autonomic can be easily programmed and monitored via a user-friendly app.
